250 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 
“These samples were taken at random, and would indicate that Catalpa 
will bear the pressure to which it is subjected when used as railroad ties. Two 
Catalpa railroad ties were placed in the track near our office five years ago, 
and twelve one year ago. All hold their spikes well and shown no signs of 
mashing more than oak on each side of them, and over both of which heavily 
loaded trains pass almost hourly. The roadmaster, who has watched them 
with interest, says he has had no better ties on the line of his road.” 
Timber lands which have been cut over and which are not of great value, 
may profitably be planted with Catalpa timber, and thus prolong the lumber- 
ing operations indefinitely. 
The lumber is suited for inside finish for dwellings and all kinds of fur- 
niture, especially the medium grades. As a base for veneering, it has a special 
value, as it neither warps, swells nor shrinks with changes of weather, while 
glue clings to it with tenacity. 
BRIEF HISTORY OF RAILWAY PLANTING. 
The high value of the Catalpa for railway uses was known to the earliest 
railway engineers; its extreme durability as compared with other woods, for 
cross-ties had been proven fifty years ago. Advanced thinkers among the rail- 
way officials recognized at that time the approaching period when Catalpa 
would be the timber which must be used in future. 
The first railway in Indiana, from Madison and Jeffersonville to Indian- 
apolis, was largely tied with red cedar. Many of these ties are still in use as 
fence posts by farmers along the line. Some Catalpa was also used, but their 
identity was lost in changes of management, and no trace of them now can be 
found. These two woods were chosen because of their requiring less frequent 
renewals. The Iron Mountain Road passing through the Catalpa region in 
Southeastern Missouri, made use of all the Catalpa obtainable. Two hundred 
acres near Charleston, Mo., were planted with Catalpa, about 1860. Changes 
in officials, carelessness of the plantation managers, and worse, the planting of the 
worthless kind of trees, combined to make them a failure. It was abandoned, 
and used as a farm. 
SPURIOUS: SEED, 
When the plantation was made, seed was bought in open market, a large 
quantity having been Oriental seed, while much was bignonoides. 
From this lot of trees a thousand pounds of seed were gathered, quarter 
of a century ago, and distributed throughout the land. The vast number of 
crooked, dwarf, and worthless trees of the United States may be traced to 
this source, and this has given rise to the impression among many that all 
Catalpa trees are of this character. 
The Farlington plantation made by the K. C., Ft. S. & Gulf Ry. and Mr. 
H. H. Hunnewell are mentioned on another page. 
About 1883 the Pennsylvania Railway planted 200,000 Catalpa trees along 
its line through Ohio and Indiana. This was done by General J. F. Miller, at 
that time superintendent of the line; General Miller being promoted, the care 
